Push filter with floating key lock

Abstract

A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. A push filter design activates a floating key lock upon insertion and extraction, where the filter key may be used simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The filter base may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within a refrigerator. The filter housing assembly may be attached to, and removed from, the filter base by a push-actuated release. Upon insertion, the filter key shifts the filter lock longitudinally to receive interlocking segments. Upon extraction, the same axial push shifts the filter lock further to align the interlocking fingers within gaps that allow for easy extraction. The specific key lock design allows a user to identify and match certain filter configurations received by the mechanical support, and reject other filter configurations.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A filter housing assembly comprising:
 a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, said filter housing having a body and a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with said body, said filter housing including: 
 an ingress port; 
 an egress port; and 
 a filter key located on said filter housing and having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, said filter key including a plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers on each longitudinal side of said filter key extending laterally from said lateral sides approximate said top surface, wherein said fingers include winged extensions for mating attachment to a filter base or manifold. 
 
     
     
       2. The filter housing of  claim 1  including an elongated protrusion extending longitudinally from a side surface of said filter housing body portion, a side surface of said top portion, or both. 
     
     
       3. The filter housing of  claim 2  wherein said filter key includes a groove complementary to said elongated protrusion for insertably securing said filter key to said filter housing by slideably mating said elongated protrusion of said filter housing within said filter key groove. 
     
     
       4. The filter housing of  claim 1  wherein said fingers include slanted or angled faces. 
     
     
       5. The filter housing assembly of  claim 4  wherein said fingers include a diamond shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       6. The filter housing assembly of  claim 1  including having said filter key attached to said filter housing by snap fit, friction fit, welding, or bonding. 
     
     
       7. The filter housing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said ingress or egress ports extend radially from a side surface of said filter housing body portion, a side surface of said top portion, or both. 
     
     
       8. The filter housing assembly of  claim 7  wherein said ingress port and said egress port are off axial center of said filter housing. 
     
     
       9. The filter housing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said spaced protrusions or fingers are integrally formed with said filter key. 
     
     
       10. The filter housing assembly of  claim 1  including at least one strengthening rib on said filter housing body. 
     
     
       11. The filter housing assembly of  claim 10  wherein said at least one strengthening rib protrudes radially from said filter housing body and extends longitudinally intermediate between top and bottom portions of said filter housing. 
     
     
       12. The filter housing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said filter key includes an indented angled ramp segment on at least one bottom edge, and said filter housing includes at least one protruding or extended angled ramp segment for complementary mating with said indented angled ramp segment on said filter key. 
     
     
       13. The filter housing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said filter key includes an extended, protruding angled ramp segment on at least one bottom edge, and said filter housing includes at least one indented angled ramp segment for complementary mating with said protruding angled ramp segment on said filter key. 
     
     
       14. A filter housing assembly comprising:
 a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, the filter housing having two ports for ingress and egress in fluid communication with said filter media, the filter housing having a filter head forming a fluid-tight seal with the filter housing, and a first attachment structure for receiving a filter key; and 
 said filter key having a top surface, a bottom, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, said filter key including:
 a plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers on each longitudinal side of said filter key extending laterally from said top surface and having winged extensions; and 
 a second attachment structure located on said filter key bottom for attaching said filter key to said first attachment structure on said filter housing. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The filter housing assembly of  claim 14  wherein said filter key is fixably or removably attached to said filter housing. 
     
     
       16. The filter housing assembly of  claim 14  wherein said filter key fingers include slanted or angled faces on said winged extensions. 
     
     
       17. The filter housing assembly of  claim 16  wherein said winged extensions have a diamond shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       18. The filter housing assembly of  claim 14  wherein said first attachment structure includes an elongated protrusion extending from said filter housing, and said second attachment structure includes a groove complementary to said elongated protrusion for insertably securing said filter key to said filter housing by slidably mating said elongated protrusion of said filter housing within said groove. 
     
     
       19. A filter base in combination with a filter housing assembly, said combination comprising:
 a filter base having an ingress port and an egress port on a base platform; 
 a slidable floating lock in slidable contact of said filter base, said floating lock having a plurality of drive keys or lateral extensions separated by gaps; 
 a resilient member in contact with said floating lock, providing a retraction force for said floating lock; 
 a filter housing assembly including a longitudinal side portion and a top portion having a filter head, a first attachment structure and an elongated protrusion extending from said longitudinal side portion or a side of said top portion or both, and at least one protruding angled ramp segment for complementary mating with said angled ramp segment on said filter key; and 
 a filter key located on said filter housing assembly, said filter key having longitudinal sides and lateral sides, said filter key including:
 a plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers on each longitudinal side of said filter key extending laterally from said top surface, wherein said fingers include winged extensions having slanted or angled faces for mating attachment to a filter base or manifold; 
 a second attachment structure having a groove complementary to said elongated protrusion for insertably securing said filter key to said filter head top surface by slidably mating said elongated protrusion of said filter head within said groove; and 
 an indented angled ramp segment on at least one bottom edge. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The combination of  claim 19  wherein said floating lock includes:
 a bottom surface, a top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, and wherein said lateral extensions include drive keys on said longitudinal sides extending laterally inwards at said bottom surface for slidably receiving said filter key, each of said drive keys including an angled portion exposed towards said bottom surface, and an edge or wedge on each of said drive key bottom for releasably contacting with a portion of said filter key; and 
 a position key centered about said floating lock, and located above said drive keys to provide a physical stop during insertion of said filter housing assembly. 
 
     
     
       21. A filter cartridge comprising:
 a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, the filter housing having a body and a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, a filter housing axis extending in an axial direction along the filter housing, the filter housing top portion including: 
 an ingress port; 
 an egress port; and 
 a filter key located on or connected to the filter housing and having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides shorter than the longitudinal sides, the filter key having a protrusion extending in a direction parallel to the filter key lateral sides, wherein the protrusion includes on one side a slanted or angled face angled with respect to the filter housing axis, and on an opposing side a face having a substantially straight edge parallel to the filter housing axis. 
 
     
     
       22. The filter cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the protrusion includes a diamond-shaped cross-section in a plane parallel to the longitudinal sides of the filter key. 
     
     
       23. The filter cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the filter key is integral with the filter housing top portion, or attached to the filter housing top portion by snap fit, friction fit, welding, or bonding. 
     
     
       24. The filter cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the protrusion is integrally formed with the filter key. 
     
     
       25. A filter cartridge comprising:
 a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, the filter housing having a body and a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, an axis extending in an axial direction along the filter housing, the filter housing including: 
 an ingress port; 
 an egress port; and 
 a filter key located on or connected to the filter housing for mating attachment to a filter base or manifold, the filter key having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides shorter than the longitudinal sides, the filter key having an attachment finger extending in a direction parallel to the filter key lateral sides, wherein the attachment finger includes laterally facing opposing side faces, wherein one opposing side face forms a first angle with the filter housing axis and the other opposing side face forms a second angle with the filter housing axis, such that the first angle and the second angle are not equal. 
 
     
     
       26. The filter cartridge of  claim 25 , wherein the filter key attachment finger includes a diamond-shaped cross-section in a plane parallel to the longitudinal sides. 
     
     
       27. A filter key located on or connected to a filter housing for attachment to a filter base or manifold, the filter housing having an axis, the filter key having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides shorter than the longitudinal sides, the filter key having a protrusion extending in a direction parallel to the filter key lateral sides, wherein the protrusion includes on one side a slanted or angled face angled with respect to the filter housing axis, and on an opposing side a face having at least a portion being a substantially straight edge parallel to the filter housing axis. 
     
     
       28. A filter key located on or connected to a filter housing for mating attachment to a filter base or manifold, the filter housing having an axis, the filter key having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides shorter than the longitudinal sides, the filter key having an attachment finger extending in a direction parallel to the filter key lateral sides, wherein the attachment finger includes laterally facing opposing side faces, wherein one opposing side face forms a first angle with the filter housing axis and the other opposing side face forms a second angle with the filter housing axis, such that the first angle and the second angle are not equal. 
     
     
       29. The filter key of  claim 28 , wherein the attachment finger includes a diamond-shaped cross-section in a plane parallel to the longitudinal sides. 
     
     
       30. The filter key of  claim 28 , wherein the filter key is integral with the filter housing top portion, or attached to the filter housing top portion by snap fit, friction fit, welding, or bonding. 
     
     
       31. The filter key of  claim 28 , wherein the attachment finger is integrally formed with the filter key.